t.s.meese Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 I hobby (can I use that as a verb?) outside the mainstream, so I'm not always up with the news. But things seem to have ground to a halt with Coopercraft. The website is still there, you can make orders, but nothing happens, and the order sits in abeyance. Emails and other web-based enquiries are not replied to. From what I've gleaned from other posts (from about 2 years ago), the outfit is in, err, difficulties. Does anyone have an update? Can we expect those kits to reappear? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted November 24, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 24, 2017 47 pages on the Coopercraft situation in this thread. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/112011-coopercraft-its-fate-and-thoughts-on-an-alternative/?hl=coopercraft. Doubt if we will ever see new production. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Firstly, DON'T attempt to make a purchase. Secondly read this thread. Just the last couple of pages should give you an idea that this range is probably dead as a dodo. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/112011-coopercraft-its-fate-and-thoughts-on-an-alternative/ Jason 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Compound2632 Posted November 27, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 27, 2017 Given the title of this thread, it should be pointed out that Slater's Plastikard is alive and well at 7 mm scale and above and quite separate from Coopercraft. It's only their former 4 mm range that is affected by the Coopercraft debacle; however some of the wagon kits are available from POWSides. I have no connection with any of these other than as a satisfied customer - that is to say, I've never placed an order via the Coopercraft website, confining myself to mopping up Midland carriage components at ExpoEM. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
t.s.meese Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 Firstly, DON'T attempt to make a purchase. Secondly read this thread. Just the last couple of pages should give you an idea that this range is probably dead as a dodo. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/112011-coopercraft-its-fate-and-thoughts-on-an-alternative/ Jason Well, for info, I did make two orders - one at the end of Sept 2017, the other just into Oct (not realising the situation). Both orders still show as pending, awaiting further delivery charge. I notice that the second one (for ~20 quid) has been debited from my account (the day after making the order), the first one (for ~60 quid) has not. Go figure. (And I've received nothing in return.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
t.s.meese Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 My question was really whether the tooling for these kits might be bought up by somebody else - haven't Peco just bought up Parkside? But I guess there is no news further to the links above... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted November 28, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 28, 2017 This has already been answered elsewhere here. He has no intention to sell and won't accept help, I doubt Peco would wish to negotiate with him as there is also a disagreement with Slaters over the range. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 My question was really whether the tooling for these kits might be bought up by somebody else - haven't Peco just bought up Parkside? But I guess there is no news further to the links above... From what I've read, it would take an offer he couldn't refuse from a man with an Italian accent, wearing a dark suit and fedora hat, and carrying a violin case, to effect a transfer of ownership. I doubt if Peco, or any other British model businesses, employ anyone like that. If they did, I suspect customers could have even greater difficulty getting their money back! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lecorbusier Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 My question was really whether the tooling for these kits might be bought up by somebody else - haven't Peco just bought up Parkside? But I guess there is no news further to the links above... In the last Correspondence I had with Dave White at Slaters about this, he said about the Slater's 4mm range .... ....fortunately we have most of the tooling so we can put the range back into production in the future. Not sure if or when this might happen as I understand there are legal issues involved ... but it does seem hopeful in the mid term. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Yes Tim, I had heard a rumour in the trade that Slaters had finally got their moulds back. Dave. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted December 4, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 4, 2017 Yes Tim, I had heard a rumour in the trade that Slaters had finally got their moulds back. Dave. Fingers crossed. Could do with more toplights! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie Whizz Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Perhaps they finally employed the Italian man in the fedora with the violin case! 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clearwater Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 If Slaters were to reappear as the supplier of these coaches, I think they'd make a lot of sales from both the pent up demand and from those of us who would buy more than our immediate needs to avoid the risk of another supply outage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 If Slaters were to reappear as the supplier of these coaches, I think they'd make a lot of sales from both the pent up demand and from those of us who would buy more than our immediate needs to avoid the risk of another supply outage. And if they got hold of the Coopercraft kits too, like they did with the O gauge ones.... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 If Slaters were to reappear as the supplier of these coaches, I think they'd make a lot of sales from both the pent up demand and from those of us who would buy more than our immediate needs to avoid the risk of another supply outage. ...not to mention resale on eBay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clearwater Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 ...not to mention resale on eBay. Sshhh - you'll give the game away! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
6029 King Stephen Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Thanks for letting me know! I have some Slater's OO underframe kits unopened that I probably won't get around to building that I will stick on eBay in the next few days. I also have some of their wagon kits in various states of completion that I might as well stick on too..... Regards, Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lecorbusier Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 My latest information is that if all goes to plan Slaters are hoping to recommence 4mm wagon kit production early in the new year .... so fingers crossed. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted December 10, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 10, 2017 (edited) My latest information is that if all goes to plan Slaters are hoping to recommence 4mm wagon kit production early in the new year .... so fingers crossed. That is good news! Wonder if they'll be receptive to replacing the incorrect solebars in my Midland cattle wagon kit. Didn't get anywhere with CC. Edited December 10, 2017 by 57xx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 The Slaters Midland cattle should have steel solebars? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted December 10, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 10, 2017 The Slaters Midland cattle should have steel solebars? No, it would've helped if CC had packed the right components of the right length. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 No, it would've helped if CC had packed the right components of the right length. Ah, ok, confusion solved! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lecorbusier Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 (edited) A copy of the relevant parts of the e-mail I received from Dave White at Slaters:- I am not sure that any tooling alterations are in the offing! Dear Tim, Yes we are re- introducing the 4mm range, we are having to re order boxes and re do the instruction sheets as they all went to Paul Dunn. ......... so early next year they will be in production again. Regards David White Edited December 11, 2017 by Lecorbusier 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastglosmog Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 "Yes we are re- introducing the 4mm range, we are having to re order boxes and re do the instruction sheets as they all went to Paul Dunn." So should those of us with our old Slaters instruction sheets still around scan them and send them to Slaters to speed things up? Willing to help to get them back on the market! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Compound2632 Posted December 11, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 11, 2017 Would it be worth suggesting that the various pitfalls be pointed out in the revamped instructions - particularly for the Midland 9ft wheelbase wagons, the issue of the solebars and headstocks not ending up in the same plane? I can't imagine they'd want to modify the moulds for these 40-year-old kits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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